Reasons of development of modern liberalism: 

In the 19th century, liberal thinkers carried out amendments and changes in traditional liberalism in accordance with the demand of time. Modern liberalism in not a rejection of original liberalism. Instead, it is a new edition of fundamental liberalism in the context of socialist era. With the changes in the accomplishment of liberalism, its new methodologies were invented.

Its fundamental ideal was very much retained, that is, everywhere a free person, but the meaning of the ideal and its means of accomplishment changed. This new turn in liberalism came because of the challenges provided to it at political and philosophical levels. Orthodox Marxists and socialists kept on hinting at it.

And as a result, liberalism was compelled to take along democratic, nationalist and socialist sentiments after 1848. Among the main supporters and thinkers of modern liberalism, the names of John Stuart Mill, T.N. Green, L.T. Hobhouse, H.J. Laski and Maclver are the major ones in terms of their contribution and its development.

The supporters of modern liberalism do not assume the state to be a necessary evil. They regard a state as a positive and welfare institution for addressing people’s interests and their safety. They want to bring in social and economic improvements in the society by way of adopting constitutional, democratic and parliamentary methods, and it is also expected that the evil of illiteracy, poverty, epidemics, exploitation, etc.

spread’among citizens in the state will end and consistent efforts be made for the up liftment of people. Contrary to ancient liberalism, modern liberalism believes that a state should play a positive role in the context of regularization and balance of mutual relation of the people. Later, this modern liberalism did transform itself to the concept of welfare state.

Main Features of Modern Liberalism: 

The following are the main features of modern liberalism: 

1. A state is a moral and welfare institution. It is not a necessary evil. 

2. It has faith in public dominance and lawful administration. 

3. It is the responsibility of the state to ensure all – round development of all the citizens. 

4. Freedom and rights of the people are protected by the state. 

5. State should have inclusive control on the economy. 

6. The state should adopt constitutional and democratic methods for carrying out political, social, religious and economic changes. 

7. State’s rights are not unlimited. It should have certain appropriate control. 

8. An individual and the state are not mutually contrary, instead, they are supplementary to each other.